Islamic study project about islamophobia.

1. GROUP MEMBERS:
Syeda Tehreem Zahid (FA21-BSI-046)
Shazia Yousaf (FA21-BSI-041)
Sayed Mohammad (FA21-BSI-039)
Duaa Sheikh (FA21-BSI-011)
Submitted to: Mam Anam Sultana
ISLAMIC STUDIES PROJECT
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD COMPUS

2. Table of the content:
Introduction………………………………………………………… 1
Importance of freedom of expression………………………………… 2
7 seeds of freedom in Islam………………………………………………. 2,3
Limits and boundaries of freedom of expression…………………….4,
Islamophobia………………………………………………………….5
History of islamophobia, rise of islamophobia……………………….6
Global discrimination face by muslim …………………………….6
Human rights…………………………………………………………………7
Equality………………………………………………………………7
Summary……………………………………………………8,9
References………………………………………………9

3. TOPIC: Freedom of Expression
 INTRODUCTION:
James Madison (1751–1836), the chief author of the Bill of
Rights and thus of the First Amendment, was the foremost champion of religious liberty,
freedom of speech, and freedom of the press in the Founding Era. Freedom of speech was
established in the First Amendment of the United State Constitution in 1791 along with
freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the right to assemble. In 1948, the UN
recognized free speech as a human right in the International Declaration of Human Rights.
Freedom of expression or speech is widely held to be both a moral right and a legal right.
John Milton (1608–74) defended it in Britain in the seventeenth century, and the U.S.
Constitution’s Bill of Rights (1791) made it part of the First Amendment. Almost every
modern constitution and international protocol regarding human rights recognizes freedom
of expression. However, the justifications for and the contours of freedom of speech are
much mooted. Moreover, there are some, even in liberal democracies, who deny this
freedom special importance, whereas others deny its coherence as a concept.
 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION:
Freedom of expression refers to the ability of an individual or
group of individuals to express their beliefs, thoughts, ideas, and emotions about different
issues free from government censorship. Your voice matters. You have the right to say what
you think, share information and demand a better world. You also have the right to agree or
disagree with those in power, and to express these opinions in peaceful protests. Exercising
these rights without fear or unlawful interference is central to living in an open and fair
society; one in which people can access justice and enjoy their human rights. Yet
governments around the world routinely imprison people or worse for speaking out, even
though almost every country’s constitution refers to the value of ‘free speech’.
Governments have a duty to prohibit hateful, inciteful speech but many abuse their
authority to silence peaceful dissent by passing laws criminalizing freedom of expression.
This is often done in the name of counterterrorism, national security or religion(Jacobson,

4. 1995). More recently, freedom of expression has come under threat by authorities clamping
down on activists, NGOs and individuals helping refugees and migrants.
 IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION:
1. Democracy:
Freedom of expression is an important human right which is essential for a
society to be democratic. It enables the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information
and thus allows members of society to form their own opinions on issues of public
importance. Freedom of expression serves public debate and supports a free and
independent press, informed citizenship and the transparent functioning of the state.
2. Restrictions:
The right to freedom of expression is very broad, but it has limits and can be
restricted. This is when the freedom of expression of one person violates the rights of
another person or the values of society as a whole. In situations like these, the state can
lawfully restrict or punish expressions that cause harm. Examples of this are violations of
private life, defamation, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, public order, national
security, classified information, trade secrets or copyright violations(Alaimo, n.d.).
3. Media:
Freedom of expression gives special rights and duties to the media. The media
inform society on matters of public interest and create an important platform for public
debate, scrutiny and reflection. Therefore, independent media and quality journalism are
considered to be the “watchdog” of a democratic society.
ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION:
7 seeds of freedom in Islam:
1.The Quran and Hadith:
First, verses in the Qur'an and their interpretation. One verse in the Qur'an
more than any other conveys the importance of freedom: "There is no compulsion in
religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects false gods and
believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break." There is

5. no compulsion in religion. The statement is striking for the directness and simplicity with
which it forbids the very coercion that religious freedom prohibits(Muedini, 2006).
2. The life of the Prophet Muhammad:
The second seed of freedom is the life of the Prophet
Muhammad. Muslims regard the life of the Prophet—what he said, what he did—as
recorded in hadith to be nearly as important as the Qur'an as a source of faith, law, and
morals. In his life, we can find pointers to religious freedom. The Prophet's life following
the first revelations to him in 610 is typically divided into two periods: one in the city of
Mecca (610–622) and one in the city of Medina (622–632). During the Meccan period, his
followers increased but they remained a minority and were persecuted.
3. Dhimmitude:
The third seed of freedom is the history of Muslim toleration of non-Muslims.
From Muhammad's rule emerged one practice that can be regarded as a seed of
freedom: the creation of the status of the dhimmi, a permanent arrangement for non-
Muslims living under Muslim rule that allows them to practice their faith freely while
paying tribute to the government.
4. Liberal Islam:
The fourth seed is liberal Islam. In certain pockets of history, certain Muslim
countries have hosted liberalism. Liberalism here means a constitutional regime marked
by the rule of law, equal citizenship, an elected legislature, civil liberties, free markets,
and, yes, religious freedom.
5. Cotemporary Muslim Advocates of Religious Freedom:
The fifth seed is contemporary Muslim advocates of religious freedom.
While early experiences in liberal Muslim regimes were swept over by one or another
form of illiberalism, today there exist Muslim scholars, jurists, clerics, and activists who
advocate religious freedom as an Islamic principle(Shami, 2020).

6. 6. law and institutions in muslim majority states:
The sixth seed is freedom in law and institutions in Muslim-majority states.
As the book generally argues, only about one-fourth of Muslim-majority states protect
religious freedom in a robust way.
7. Seperation of religion and state:
A seventh and final seed is the separation of religion and state. As historian
Ira Lapidus argues, in the history of Islam, except for a few periods, including the
founding period, religious and temporal authorities have been differentiated. There are
many varieties of this differentiation, and at times, religious and temporal authorities
have interpenetrated each other thoroughly(Slotte & Haskell, 2021).
 LIMITS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION:
Freedom of expression is not regarded as absolute by some, with most
legal systems generally setting limits on the freedom of speech, particularly when
freedom of speech conflicts with other rights and protections, such as in the cases of
libel, slander, pornography, obscenity, fighting words, and intellectual property. Some
limitations to freedom of speech may occur through legal sanction, and others may occur
through social disapprobation.
BOUNDARIES OF FREEDOM:
1. To adopt the fair and true speaking:
The foremost principle of Islamic freedom of expression is fair and true
speaking. Many of the Qur’anic verses and Aḥādīth of the prophet (S.W.A) identify it as a
permanent feature of the Islamic Society. As well as, fair speaking is the most vital
principle of expression and discussion in Islamic teachings. Therefore, the Quran
emphasizes on this important rule of expression in different ways. Allah commands to
the believers; “And communicate fairly to the People”.
2. To avoid telling false:
The second important principle and primary limit of Islamic freedom of
expression is to avoid wrong speaking and wrong statement. The Divine Book of Allah in

7. many verses focuses on avoids telling a lie. Almighty Allah commands in the Nobel
Quran;
“So avoid the unclean lines of idols and avoid false statement”
3. To verify news before their spread:
To check out the authenticity of news before to communicate it in the society
is an important principle of Islamic conversation and freedom of expression. The basic
objective of it is to save the society from anarchy, chaos and Fitnah. The Book of Allah
instructs as;
“O believers, if a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest
ye harm people unwittingly and afterwards become full of repentance”
4. To evade exposing personal weakness and hidden matters:
Islamic teachings categorically hinder exposing personal and hidden matters of
any one. It is an important principle and limit of Islamic freedom of expression. The basic
purpose of this law is to protect the human dignity and respect and avoid harm to others. Allah
recommends for believers in the Holy Quran.
“O believers, avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin:
And spy not on each other behind their backs”
5. To circumvent the spread of evils:
Islamic teachings rigorously forbid dissemination of evil speech, obscenity, and
indulgence and hate speech in an Islamic state or society. Therefore, Allah warns in the
Quran to those persons who spared obscenity;
“Those who love scandal published broadcast among the Believers will have a grievous
Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and ye know not”(Jansen & Martin,
2004).
 ISLAMOPHOBIA:
Islamophobia is the maximum used time period to describe prejudice, negative
sentiments, and hostility closer to Islam and Muslims. Islamophobia may be based on ideas
about Islam as a religion and on thoughts approximately Muslims as a cultural and ethnic

8. group. Islamophobic ideas portray Islam and Muslims as an existential risk to non-Muslims.
Some argue that Islamophobia is the direct equivalent to 8nti-Semitism, and that Muslims
have become the new Jews the most reviled and at-hazard minority. The “Eurabia” idea is a
key pillar for Western Islamophobic circles, in which they believe that European elites and
Muslim leaders have entered a mystery plan to “Islamize” Europe(Allen, 2020).
 HISTORY OF ISLAMOPHOBIA:
While what is thought as Islamophobia these days has a protracted history, the
term itself changed into coined in 1918 by means of French researchers and converts to
Islam. They used the time period to classify what they noticed as a political effort via
colonial powers to undermine Islam. However, it turned into no longer until the past due
1990s that the time period become popularized, with the British race equality think tank
Runnymede Trust’s record Islamophobia: A mission for us all(Kayaoğlu, 2011).
 RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA:
The upward thrust of Islamophobia has been driven in part by means of nearby
conditions in character nations and areas in which underlying issues which include class and
ethnicity regularly also played a function. The rise of a ways proper corporations is another
factor using a growth in hate towards Muslims. “We welcome the latest report by using the
United Nations describing Islamophobia as achieving epidemic proportions,” said Errum
Ikramullah, a research project manager on the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.
“These new U.N. Findings are in line with ISPU records, which continually discover that
American Muslims are the most in all likelihood faith organization to face dealing with
religious discrimination, at approximately 60% during the last 5 years.”
The U.N. report noted a European Commission against Racism and Intolerance examine
which found that of 7600,000 Dutch information gadgets in 2016 and 2017, the adjectives
most used to describe Muslims have been radical, extremist and “terrorist”; in comparison,
Dutch humans are often described as known, average and beautiful.
 GLOBAL DISCRIMINATION FACED BY MUSLIMS:
Intolerance and discrimination against Muslims are not new, however
manifestations of those phenomena appear to have been at the recent years.

9. Blame game on Muslim is very common whatever happens everyone blames Muslims no
matter what especially in west they think that Muslims are the cause of terrorism but there
is no truth in it, it is high time that we all Muslims must take stand against these false
narrative. Muslims would possibly experience verbal harassment or be the goals of hate
speech, violent attacks or non-secular profiling. ODIHR works with OSCE taking part States
to developed academic guidelines to fight hostility toward and prejudice against Muslims,
and gives training on hate crimes for NGOs running on this area(King & Ahmad, 2010).
In order to guide the efforts of taking part States to counter intolerance and discrimination
towards Muslims, ODIHR has undertaken some of activities, which include:
 Working with OSCE collaborating States to make educational policies and programmed to
fight hatred, hostility and prejudice, with a purpose to addressing the basis reasons of
intolerance.
 Monitoring hate crimes and hate motivated incidents against Muslims through the
collection of data for ODIHR’s annual Hate Crime Reporting.
 Providing training on hate crimes for non-governmental businesses dealing with intolerance
towards Muslims inside the OSCE location, to help them better record and report instances
of hate crimes(Martin, 2015).
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of
opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights,
without discrimination. Human rights are based on values that keep society fair, just and equal. They
include the right to life, the right to health and the right to freedom from torture. Human rights are needed to
protect and preserve every individual’s humanity, to ensure that every individual can live a life of dignity and a
life that is worthy of a human being. Human rights are needed to protect and preserve every individual’s
humanity, to ensure that every individual can live a life of dignity and a life that is worthy of a human being.

10. Equality:
While identifying different kinds of inequalities that exist in society, various thinkers and
ideologies have highlighted three main dimensions of equality namely, political, social and
economic.
How do you show equality?
1. Treating everyone equally and fairly.
2. Creating an inclusive culture that has respect for all cultures and religions.
3. Ensuring equal access to opportunities for all the citizens.
4. Enabling people to develop their full potential.
5. Educating people and making them understand the importance of Equality.
 SUMMARY:
Freedom of expression is essential in informing and facilitating the realization of
other fundamental human rights. It is particularly important in situations where human
rights abuses are occurring. The rights to freedom of opinion and expression grant all
people the right to express themselves, and to seek, receive and impart information
through any medium. Freedom of expression allows pluralist dialogue and creates a secure
platform for critical voices. It ensures that people have the right to seek, obtain, receive and
hold information about human rights and human rights violations. Freedom of expression is
an important human right which is essential for a society to be democratic. It enables the
free exchange of ideas, opinions and information and thus allows members of society to
form their own opinions on issues of public importance. In Islamic perspective freedom of
expression is not only a right but sometimes it also becomes an absolute duty of a Muslim.
Allah Almighty grants the freedom of expression due to human dignity, honor and free
thinking. Quran also mentions some important areas and it objectives of the freedom of
expression. Islam gives everyone right to exercise freedom of expression, as long as he does
not intrude upon the freedom and dignity of other people. There is no place for the
propagation of evil and wickedness in Islam. It does not grant anybody the right to use

11. abusive or offensive language in the name of criticism and freedom of speech. Indeed, Islam
grants everyone the right to have his own opinion within the boundaries of morality.
References:
1. Alaimo, N. (n.d.). A Defense of Freedom of Expression in Schools: The Case from
Differentiation of Instruction.
2. Allen, C. (2020). Towards a Working Definition: Islamophobia and Its Contestation. In
Reconfiguring Islamophobia (pp. 1–13). Springer.
3. Jacobson, D. (1995). Freedom of speech acts? A response to Langton. Philosophy &
Public Affairs, 64–79.
4. Jansen, S. C., & Martin, B. (2004). Exposing and opposing censorship: backfire dynamics
in freedom-of-speech struggles. Pacific Journalism Review, 10(1), 29–45.
5. Kayaoğlu, T. (2011). Islamophobia, defamation of religions, and international human
rights. In Human rights in the Middle East (pp. 73–89). Springer.
6. King, E. B., & Ahmad, A. S. (2010). An experimental field study of interpersonal
discrimination toward Muslim job applicants. Personnel Psychology, 63(4), 881–906.
7. Martin, M. B. (2015). Perceived discrimination of Muslims in health care. Journal of
Muslim Mental Health, 9(2).
8. Muedini, F. A. (2006). In security: How post 9/11 United States domestic anti-terrorism
policy has impacted the safety and identity of Muslims in America. American University.
9. Shami, S. (2020). Freedom of Expression: Finding a Balance between Two Extremes.
10. Slotte, P., & Haskell, J. D. (2021). Christianity and International Law: An Introduction.
Cambridge University Press.